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“That’s his best friend’s son. I went to school with him.” Nash explained.
“He’s a librarian, for fuck’s sake. What’s he doing in a club on Daddy night?”
“Looking for a Daddy?” I said hesitantly.
“Caleb?” he asked, the disbelief in his voice hard to miss. “He blushes if you look at him too long. There’s no way he’s here looking for a Daddy.”
I looked across Julius to Keith. “Well, you know there was this time someone”—I glared pointedly at Julius—“convinced me to come to Daddy night and didn’t bother to tell that’s what it was. Maybe that’s what happened.”
“Maybe?” he said, but he didn’t take his eyes off Caleb. Hmm, Keith said Julius wasn’t his type. Could be brainy twinks were more his speed.
Nash finished off his drink and turned to me. “So, cutie, what do you want to do tomorrow before we go back? Do you want to swing by the bookstore on our way out of town?”
“Yes, please!” I threw myself against him, hugging him tight.
“Well, shit!” Keith growled again. This guy had him really worked up. “Freaking Sebastian Demarco is talking to him. That guy’s a worthless piece of crap. I keep waiting for the day the owner bans him.”
Julius nodded in agreement. “That guy’s bad news.”
“I’ll be back later, guys.”
I watched as Keith got up and stormed to the bar, inserting himself between the guy and Caleb, and dang, I could see the Daddy vibes just pouring off him. I had a feeling this was more than just him wanting to protect his friend’s son, and if that was the case, Caleb wouldn’t stand a chance.
Nash gave my leg a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry about Keith. He can handle himself. Why don’t we go dance?”
I glanced over at Julius. It would be pretty shitty of me to ask him to come and then leave him sitting here alone. He downed the last of his drink and slammed the glass back down. “You two go ahead, and I’ll catch up with you later. I see the perfect Daddy for me sitting all by his lonesome at the bar.”
And like the universe was on my side, the music that was playing ended, and a slow, sultry-sounding song started. Nash gave me a knowing grin and held out his hand. I took it and let him lead me out onto the dance floor.
He placed his right hand on the small of my back and pulled me close. I could feel his heart beating against mine as our bodies moved in time with the music. I laid my head against his shoulder and inhaled his familiar scent. It was a mix of leather, musk, and something that was uniquely him.
I’d been excited about tonight because, for the first time, I was free to be my Daddy’s boy in public, but in that moment, none of that mattered. The rest of the room ceased to exist. It was just me and Nash, and I could stay right here in this man’s arms forever.
Chapter 26
Nash
I woke up early Saturday morning like always and carefully slipped out of bed. Spencer said he didn’t mind if I woke him up early, but I still tried my best not to disturb him. Keith wasn’t up either, so the house was dark and quiet. You never knew with him. His sleep schedule could be erratic from years of late-night call-outs and rotating shifts. He and Danny both lived by this bizarre rule they called sleep while you can; don’t worry about the clock that they’d both picked up from jobs.
I got a pot of coffee going and then went out to sit on Keith’s deck. Did the foreman’s house at the ranch have a deck? I wasn’t sure. I’d never had reason to go out behind it, but I hoped so because I’d always loved sitting out here watching the sunrise.
Murphy and V would take all their furniture, of course, and I didn’t have any of my own. I was pretty sure the apartment Spence rented was furnished so that stuff wasn’t his, so he didn’t have much either. I guess it was a good thing this position came with a raise ‘cause it looked like I would need it. I was sure Cruz and Nolan would be happy to furnish it if I mentioned it, but I wanted the stuff to be ours, not theirs. Of course, that was all assuming Spencer agreed to move out to the ranch with me, but that was my plan anyway, and hopefully, I wasn’t getting ahead of myself.
I sat there until the sun broke the horizon, and bright colors of blazing orange and deep pink littered the sky. Most people liked to sleep in and to each their own. But in my opinion, this was the best time of the day. After a few minutes, I got up and went inside to get a cup of coffee.
I was pouring myself a cup when Keith walked in, his hair still wet from a shower. “Ah, coffee, perfect. Is that your first cup?”
I handed him the one I’d just poured and got another mug for myself. “It is. I was sitting out back thinking.”
He chuckled. “No thinking happens up here”—he tapped the side of his head—“before this.” He raised the coffee cup.
“It was pretty mindless thoughts, to be honest, nothing important. I was about to make us some breakfast if you want any.”
“Funny, I was thinking the same thing. I thought I would treat you and your boy to some French toast. How does that sound?”
“Perfect if you’ll let me help. Spencer loves French toast and gets it at the diner all the time, but I have no idea how to make it.”
The only bad thing about living on the ranch was that it was a bit far to run to town every time you wanted something to eat, so we were going to have to learn to fend for ourselves. Sure we had V there cooking, but she didn’t cook to order. You ate whatever she was preparing for that meal. It was always delicious, and most of the time, that was fine. But every now and then, you got a craving for something, and I wasn’t about to ask her to change things up ‘cause I got a hankering for pancakes or French toast.
